FAQ
Why should I sit on a saddle chair and not on a traditional office chair?
When sitting on a saddle chair the spine is almost in the same position as when standing: there is a small curve in the lower back and the vertebrae is not pressing the disks. This position is natural and therefore easy to maintain.
Sitting on a two-part saddle chair reduces tensions in the back and sciatic-type pains, enhances circulation, makes breathing deeper, keeps the hip joint in the optimal 135 degree angle and makes it easy to move around on the chair.
The two-part seat does not press the genital area, which is beneficial to genital health. More information on the benefits of Salli.
Why is there no backrest in the Salli Saddle Chair? Will the back not get tired?
When you sit high enough and keep your feet on the sides, you end up in a position where you don’t need support for the back. The pelvis is in an upright position, which makes keeping the back upright as easy as if we were standing or walking; we do not need any backrest when we are standing either.
In a traditional chair with a backrest the thighs and upper body form a steep 90-degree angle, which makes the pelvis tilt backwards. Then the back becomes rounded, the position makes the back tired, and that makes us lean on the table and round the back even more.
Is it possible to sit on a Salli Saddle Chair for the whole day?
Yes, on a two-part Salli it is. Because of the gap the chair does not press the genital area, and thus there is no need to tilt the pelvis back, away from the pressure. Tilting the pelvis back makes the back round, which is very harmful for the disks and the overall health of the lower back.
However, it’s not recommendable to sit for the whole day. If possible, vary between sitting and standing, or walk while having phone calls.
Are some Salli Saddle Chair models only for men or only for women?
No, all Salli Saddle Chairs are suitable for all genders. The only exception is that we don’t recommend the one-part Solo models for men at all, and for women only for a part-time use, to avoid the uncomfortable and unhealthy pressure on the pelvic floor and genital area.
Why is it difficult to sit on a Salli Saddle Chair in the beginning?
The sitting position differs a lot from that on a traditional chair. Instead of being passive the muscles work actively. You may have sore muscles and tissues after starting a new sports; the same happens when you start sitting in the new way. The sitting bones carry the weight of the upper body, and that may make the buttocks feel sore.
Some people get used to the new sitting position in days; for others it may take weeks. Give your body time to adapt.
Why does the chair feel hard?
The chair may feel hard if you sit too far front. Your buttocks should be right at the back edge of the chair. Then you can tilt the pelvis forward, which improves your position.
Also, if the chair feels hard around the sitting bones it may be too high for you. Then the whole weight of the upper body is on the sitting bones. It is best to sit with feet firmly on the ground because then the feet carry part of the weight.
If you work in front of a desk for long periods of time the desk should have a recess. That enables you to keep the arms close to the body, and part of the weight of the upper body to rest on elbows.
How should I sit on Salli Saddle Chair?
Sitting in a right position becomes automatic, as long as you remember these three things:
- Sit high enough. There should be about a 135 degree angle in hips and knees. The wide angle enables you to tilt the pelvis forward and maintain the natural curve in the lower back. If you are sitting too low, it is easy to keep the feet in the front and this often results in a slouched position and the rounding of the back.
- Sit back enough, at the back edge of the chair. If you sit too far in the front, your sitting bones are not on the softest place of the seat, and the chair may feel hard.
- Keep your feet on the side. The position should be the same as when standing: when looked at from the side the shoulder, pelvis and heel are on the same line. If the feet are in the front, the back is often rounded into a wrong position.
Why is there a gap in the middle of Salli Saddle Chairs?
The gap enables you to tilt the pelvis forward, into its natural standing posture without feeling pressure in the genital area. On a one-part that pressure often makes the sitter tilt the pelvis backwards, and then the back becomes rounded.
In addition to the chair being more comfortable to sit on, the gap improves the genital health through improved circulation and nerve functions. The gap also makes the chair cool and well ventilated.
Why does Salli Saddle Chairs need to be accompanied by a higher-than-normal table?
On Salli Saddle Chairs you sit 15–20 cm higher than on a traditional chairs. The hip and knee angles are 135 degrees, instead of the 90 degrees on traditional chairs, which makes the position higher.
We highly recommend an adjustable table to be used with Salli Saddle Chairs. An electrically adjustable table can be adjusted for sitting and standing, reading and writing, and for different persons.
Can the swing mechanism in the Swing and SwingFit models be locked?
The mechanism cannot be locked into a specific position, but the sensitivity of the movement can be adjusted. The active seat follows the movements of the body and activates the deep back muscles. The seat is not as mobile as you could imagine and it does not move by itself; it only follows your movements.
Take a look at how the swing mechanism can be adjusted
Should I sit lower on a swinging Salli Saddle Chair than on other models?
On the swinging Salli Saddle Chairs you sit a bit lower than on other Salli models, because the feet need to be firmly on the ground and the knees need to be elastic. If you are sitting too high the chair feels shaky. It is advisable to get used to a swinging chair by sitting quite a bit lower than you would normally sit on a saddle chair. When you get used to the movement you can lift the chair higher.
The leather upholstery makes me sweat – is fabric upholstery available? Can I have the chair re-upholstered?
When sitting on a two-part seat, the leather upholstery should not make you sweat. When sitting on a one-part chair the air cannot circulate and that makes one sweat.
The chair can also be upholstered with artificial leather or wool fabric, or you can buy a leather or fabric seat cover for the seat. The seat can also be upholstered with a fabric of your own, as long as the fabric is durable enough. Take a look at the upholstery materials.
An old chair can be re-upholstered; deliver the chair to your dealer for re-upholstering.
See also instructions for taking care of your Salli.
My new Salli Saddle Chair just arrived. What tools do I need to assemble it?
Congratulations on your choice! You do not need tools to assemble the chair. The chair has only three parts and is very easy to assemble. If you got your chair in winter let the gas spring warm to room temperature before assembling the chair.
I have been using my Salli Saddle Chair for ten years and I’m still happy with it. However, the castors are not as mobile as they used to be and moving around on the chair is difficult. What should I do?
The castors do get worn out in time. Often sand and dust between the floor and the castors wear them and cause the chair not to move easily. We recommend that you change the castors every five years to keep the chair rolling.
You’ll get spare parts from your local dealer or by visiting Salli’s webshop – you can buy castors here.
The width adjustment in my MultiAdjuster/SwingFit is stuck. How do I release it?
This instruction is for chair models made before 2019. The newer models have a mechanism that doesn’t get stuck.
If the adjustment mechanism is tight, rap it briskly with your palm a couple of times. Strike towards right when looking from behind the chair. When you lock the width, the lever does not need to be pressed tightly into the ultimate position; it is ok when it catches and the parts of the seat remain in place. Do not press the seat parts together with your thighs when the lever is locked because that may cause it to lock too tightly. Always get up from the chair to adjust the width.
Can I wear a skirt when sitting on a Salli Saddle Chair?
A tight skirt prevents you from sitting in the healthy riding-like position where you keep your feet on the sides. A loose and stretchy skirt or a wraparound skirt enable sitting on Salli.
Clothes that are too tight are not recommended in sedentary work because they weaken circulation.
My Salli Saddle Chair is pressing the testicles uncomfortably; do I have a wrong chair model?
Men should always use the two-part Salli Saddle Chairs. Because of the gap the chair does not press the genital area and therefore the circulation and nerve functions of the area are not disturbed.
In Salli SwingFit and Salli MultiAdjuster models, the width of the gap is adjustable.
I have been using my Salli Saddle Chair for a month and my buttocks still feel sore; what can I do?
Time makes even good positions poisonous, so the magic word is change: change your position, make use of the swinging seat of Swing models and work standing for a while. Test height, tilt and width adjustments to find the best ones for you. We cannot stand for hours on end in exactly the same position, and the same goes for sitting. What the body needs is movement.
It may also be that it takes you a bit longer time to get used to the chair – do not give up!
Can I test Salli Saddle Chairs before buying?
You can test Salli Saddle Chair for a couple of weeks, especially if you have not used a saddle chair before. If you are an experienced saddle chair user you can test the Salli for a shorter period of time, or just start using the Salli without testing. Fill in the form Free trial and our Salli expert will contact you as soon as possible to arrange a free trial.
When you get your trial chair, make sure that you are sitting right.
Are spare parts available for Salli Saddle Chairs?
Yes, we have a wide selection of spare parts and accessories. Please contact your local dealer or visit Salli’s webshop.